Top 10 Repurposed Airplane Hangars

#1 Tropical Islands Resort, Brandenburg, Germany

Located on a former WWII military base, this giant hangar was constructed just prior to the new millennium to build airships (blimps). After the venture failed, this hangar was turned into a tropical paradise that houses everything from a rainforest to a tropical lagoon and village. The structure is able to maintain a constant tropical temperature throughout the winter months and this helps more than 600 rare plant species survive here. This is the world’s largest open uninterrupted space building and it also ranks 3rd in the world for largest buildings measured by volume (ranked behind the Boeing factory and the Jean-Luc Lagardère Plant where the Airbus A380 is built)

#2 House of Air Trampoline Park, San Francisco, CA

Action sports junkies will find The House of Air located on the waters of the San Francisco bay just inside of the Golden Gate Bridge. This modern indoor trampoline park utilizes an old airplane hangar that was a part of the Chrissy Airfield during WWI. Now it is home to several trampoline covered areas that are used for fun, entertainment, and sport.

#3 The Hangar Sport and Events Center @ Downsview Park, Toronto, CA

In the frozen City of Toronto, you wouldn’t want to be caught playing soccer outdoors in the middle of the winter. In order to give the youth a warm place to stay out of trouble, an old airplane hangar was converted into a multi-use space that includes a gokart track, street hockey arena, 2 multi-sport courts, 4 turf fields, a climbing wall, sand volleyball courts, bleacher seating and more! “The Hangar” is found in the Downview Park area along with several other large warehouse buildings that are being repurposed. The area was once home to a Canadian aircraft manufacturer, as well as the Canadian Air Force.

#4 Hangar 61 Church, Denver, Colorado

One mile above sea level on the grounds of Denver’s old Stapleton International Airport you will find Hangar 61. The hangar was built in 1959 and used for several decades until the airport was closed in 1994. The building was entirely restored and the interior underwent extensive remodeling in order to create a comfortable church atmosphere. In 2010 the Stapleton Fellowship Church held its first worship ceremony here.

#5 Queen Mary Dome, Long Beach, CA

Made almost entirely from birchwood and having the largest wingspan of any aircraft that has ever been made, the Spruce Goose was intended to be a heavy-lift float plane during WWII. This unique flying marvel required a hangar that was just as unique as the plane itself. The Spruce Goose Dome, now renamed the Queen Mary Dome, is located on the waterfront next to the RMS Queen Mary which is permanently docked in the Port of Long Beach. The structure has a capacity of 2,160 people and can be used for a wide range of functions. During the winter “Chill” festival this dome is converted into the Ice Kingdom and it also hosts corporate events and concerts throughout the year. It even acts as an entryway to the Port of Long Beach for Cruise Ship passengers.

#6 Lotus HQ, Hethel, England

Source : http://www.lotuscars.com/handmade-in-hethel-experience

Located in Hethel England, this former air base is now the home of Lotus. The company has located its headquarters, main factory, and test track circuit on the premises, and car enthusiasts are encouraged to take the factory tour here. When Lotus first began production here the company used the old hangar buildings for their production lines. Most of these hangars have now been replaced with modernized buildings, however, some parts of the old runway are still being used for the test track.

#7 Schiphol-Noord Transport Hub, Amsterdam

Source : http://www.claessens-erdmann.nl/busstation-schiphol-noord-nl

The light extravaganza shown in this photo is actually an old airplane hangar that has been taken apart, moved, and repurposed into a transportation hub for local buses. All of the lights and functional electronics in the station are powered by solar panels, making this bus station energy-sustainable. Approx 16,000 passengers pass through here each day and at night 138 LED lights create the spectacle that is shown here.

#8 Danville, Geneva, Florida

Source : https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2713449

Welcome to Danville, a private hangar/home that has been turned into a meeting/wedding venue that can be easily rented through Airbnb. The porch on the front of the house opens vertically to reveal a small 1940’s town that has been built inside of the hanger. The town includes an Irish Pub, photo booth, and most importantly, the Danville Inn where you will be staying the night. To top it off, there is a 15’ x 15’ movie screen on the backside of the hangar door for your entertainment, and room for approx. 150 people to gather.

#9 “The Hangar” Loft Apartments, Colombia, SC

Source : http://columbiahg.com/2011/01/the-hangars/

Near the Jim Hamilton–L.B. Owens Airport in South Carolina you will find a unique apartment complex that is aptly called: The Hangars. This is the brainchild of local entrepreneur and contractor Joeb Dick. The structure was originally built in the 1940s as an airplane hangar and since then it has played other roles like the home of a clothing manufacturer. In the 1990s Joeb decided to transform this structure into a series of loft apartments that incorporate a modern design with the distinct nod to the building’s aviation heritage.

#10 Hangar Cafe, Miller, MO

Source : http://www.brandonalmsphotography.com/

Located along a row of operational hangars in Miller, MO, pilots and aviation enthusiasts will find the Hangar Kafe waiting to serve you a hot breakfast and coffee. The airport is about the size that you would expect in a town that you have never heard of before, so you won’t see any A380s landing here for lunch. This crafty restaurant has been colorfully decorated with airplane models and memorabilia that remind you that you are inside of an airplane hangar. This is as close to drive-through as you will get in the aviation world.

Benjamin Meister is a Senior Project Manager at Western Steel Buildings llc in Park City, Utah. Benjamin works closely with his team of designers, fabricators, and construction crews to deliver prefabricated steel buildings such as airplane hangars and aviation support buildings, equestrian arenas, warehouses, and agriculture buildings.

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